On Intuition and Kitchen Disasters

How good are you about following your gut instincts? Do you pay attention to your intuition, or do you shrug it off, preferring to stick to what you planned or think you should do? I recently got a great reminder about why I should always, always, follow my intuition.

Early last month, Eugene and I drove down to Brooklyn for brunch with my in-laws. We met Eugene's dad, mom, and brother in Williamsburg and then walked around a bit until we found a nice spot to eat.*

After brunch and a few scoops of palm sugar ice cream from the Van Leeuwen truck, Eugene and I got back in the car to return to the city when I suddenly got this weird urge to stop by Brooklyn Kitchen. I wasn't even really sure where it was located though I knew it was somewhere in Williamsburg. We were already starting to drive away when I kind of blurted out that I wanted to stop by there. Eugene, used to my impulses, didn't even question me as he looked up the address on his phone then entered it into the GPS which led us the three blocks to the store. I didn't have anything in particular in mind though I wandered around a bit looking to see what jumped out at me. While checking out the flyers on a table wondering if I should leave a few for my classes,  I came across a postcard for a culinary retreat at a place called Good Commons. I grabbed the card (and left a few of my own) then headed out.

Later that evening, I was about to go to bed when I decided to check out the postcard again. The retreat sounded fantastic: a long weekend in Vermont, visits to local farms and artisan producers, gourmet meals, massages, a hot tub, even round trip transportation! It led me to the retreat's Facebook page where I saw a contest to win a free trip to the culinary retreat. To enter, I just had to submit a brief story about a recent kitchen disaster. I thought about it for a few minutes and decided to go to bed and enter in the morning. In fact I did shut down, but something kept nagging me as I lay in bed. So I got back up, turned on my laptop, and at 2AM I wrote my story. I sent it in, along with the photo below, and went to bed.

The next morning, I told Eugene about it. I said, "I entered a contest to win a trip to that culinary retreat and I'm definitely going to win." Once again, used to my unusually confident declarative statements he just laughed and went to work.

Needless to say, a week or so later I heard back and I had won! Here is my little 2AM kitchen disaster story:

"It was already late, but the craving wouldn't wait.  I worked from memory, and just like each time before, the dark chocolate cake moistened with freshly brewed espresso baked up perfectly. While the layers cooled, I started the frosting, opting to go with something foolproof given the late hour.

I melted the butter, pouring it into the base of the mixer and added scoops of cocoa, watching as the paddle whirled the dry and wet into a unified silky, black pool. A pinch of kosher salt, an over-flowing tablespoon of homemade vanilla, a splash of raw Jersey cow milk delivered fresh from the farm.

I reached for the glass canister of confectioner’s sugar and scooped in a few powdery white clouds. Stirring gently at first, then raising the speed until the dark liquid grew lighter, fluffier. The texture was perfect so I took a taste.

Bitter! I could taste cocoa, the butter, but not a hint of sweetness.

I added another puff of sugar, thinking, “perhaps I miscounted the scoops?” Around and around the paddle whirled; powdery white disappearing into the chocolate. Another taste.

Still nothing!

More sugar. More whirls. Nothing but bitterness. My mouth and eyes in confused disagreement by what each experienced.

And then? A hunch. I took another taste, this time from the glass jar I'd nearly emptied in frustration. It tasted starchy, floury, dry.

It was not sugar.

A few days earlier I'd organized my pantry, wiping things down. Tossing things out. Transferring baking ingredients from flimsy boxes to strong glass jars, each neatly labeled with my own handwriting. Somehow--perhaps at the end of that long day of sorting--I got it wrong, pouring cornstarch into the jar meant for its much sweeter twin.

I scooped out the contents of my mixer. I'd just made myself a batch of the most sweetly-scented chocolate play-dough I had ever seen."

The prize weekend ended up being fantastic. Stay tuned for pics and more details in my next post.

xoxo

Alejandra



*I think the place was called Elsa's or Ella's, but I don't recommend it as the food was terrible, the water tasted dirty, and the waitress was wearing an uncomfortable-looking pair of tweed high-waisted shorts that gave me a vicarious wedgie each time she came to our table. I did not order dessert.


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5 Quick & Easy Valentine's Day Desserts

Up until Tuesday night, I thought I was going to be spending this Valentine's Day reading trashy novels and sipping fruity cocktails by the luxurious pool at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. And then it started to snow. And it snowed and snowed, and then...our flight was canceled. After a few days of trying to reschedule flights, it became glaringly apparent that we would be spending this week here in New York. Temporarily ignoring the half-packed suitcases crowding our living room floor, Eugene and I instead scrambled to make last-minute Valentine's Day dinner reservations. I love to be in the kitchen, but I'm sure you'll understand that after having spent the past six months looking forward to a week of having other people pamper and wait on me, I sure as HECK wasn't about to make dinner.

The best places that I would have loved to celebrate in were all booked, naturally, and while we considered taking a chance on a few places I'd never heard of, I finally told Eugene that I'd had my fill of disappointment this week and really didn't want to chance it. So we went for the sure thing: we made reservations at Ilili where I celebrated my birthday just a couple weeks ago. That meal was spectacular and so we decided to trust them with our Valentine's Day (and with my tender and seriously bruised expectations).

If, like me, your plans fell through this year. Or if you've simply been too busy to give it much thought. Here are five great ideas for luscious desserts that are absolutely perfect for sharing (and which all come together rather quickly and unfussy-ly).

And if it's just going to be you on Sunday night, I can wholeheartedly assure you that these desserts are also perfect for not sharing. (Trust me; before Eugene came around, it was just me and #3 for many many years.)

Have a sweet one!


1. Coconut Flour Brownies
Coconut flour replaces the traditional kind in this recipe for a moist and cake-like brownie. The hints of coconut are present in every bite, and are a perfect complement to the rich dark cocoa. Serve these a little warm, and paired with a generous scoop of ice cream for a perfect sweet ending (or beginning!).



2. Cocoa Espresso Truffles
These luxe and creamy truffles are a cinch to make and can be prepared well in advance. Pile a few of them into a pretty bowl and curl up on the couch to share them after dinner, or bring the bowl to bed with you. These bite-sized treats are spike with just a hint of espresso so their is no chance of anyone drifting off to sleep too soon. Get the recipe.



3. Flourless Chocolate Orange Almond Torte
This little cake is perfectly sized for sharing with that special someone. Scented with lusty hints of almond, olive oil, and fresh winter citrus, it's not your average flourless chocolate cake. And the bonus? If you're really in a hurry, you can combine all the ingredients and "bake" it in the microwave for a decadent dessert in just 5 minutes. You know, should you find yourself distracted with other things while getting the meal ready. Get the recipe.

4. Cherry Almond Frozen Yogurt
While this one does take a little bit more advance planning than the others (it needs time to freeze, after all), this cherry almond frozen yogurt can be made a few days in advance and scooped out whenever you're ready to serve. People tend to gravitate towards hot desserts during Valentine's, but sometimes I think it's nice to have a little something ready to cool things off. During the summer, I make this frozen yogurt with fresh sour cherries, but in the winter, frozen or jarred sour cherries will work just as nicely. Get the recipe.

5. Star Anise & Vanilla Bean Poached Pears
These plump little pears are absolutely gorgeous. Poached in a sultry combination of white wine, anise, and vanilla beans, they settle onto the plate in a soft and quivering little pool of flavor. I like to serve them with a bowl of dark chocolate ganache to drizzle with abandon. One pear is enough to share, or be greedy and demand your own. And make sure to bring an extra spoon for the chocolate. That in itself can be quite the adventure. Get the recipe.

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Thankful

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Just a few I love

I'm in the middle of my mock-Thanksgiving party prepping craziness, but I thought it might be fun to tell you about a few blogs I've discovered recently. If you haven't seen them yet, they definitely deserve a gander. (They're not all food blogs, but they are all lovely.)

Mae Bird: I'm a little bit in love with the photography and sentiment on this blog. Each time my reader tells me that there's a new post, my belly does a little jump of excitement.

Not Drowning, Mothering: This blog is my absolute brand new favorite blog. It's so my favorite that I'm actually not sure why I listed it second. The blog itself isn't brand new; it was around for a while before I even found it, which meant that I once spent several hours (when I should have been writing) reading the archives and giggling. The writer, known as the NDM, has a brilliant voice and I have never once not loved a post or found myself laughing OUT LOUD (and for real, too. Not just that patronizing IM "LOL"). She's a mom with a clever husband, a gaggle of kids (both hers and her friend's), and a delightful turn of phrase. If you've ever read and loved Shirley Jackson's "Life Among the Savages," I think you'll like. (And even if you haven't, so don't let that be your excuse not to check it out.)

Honey & Jam: I'm so amazed by this young writer/photographer/baker's writing and photos. Something about it just makes my eyes and heart happy.

The British Larder: A recent afternoon I came across about a half-dozen photos on Tastespotting that really caught my eye. Each time I clicked on them, they brought me to this blog, which is written by a UK-based professional chef. Some truly gorgeous and inventive dishes here.


Pacing the Panic Room Floor: Like NDM, this one is also not at all a food blog, but have you been? Have you seen the gorgeous photos and read the beautifully honest prose written by this new dad? He's a photographer and a (new) father who writes with such love about his family.

I'm off to the kitchen now (am already behind schedule, actually), but I hope that you go check out these sites. And maybe tell me about your own recent favorites in the comments below?

xoxo

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We had a picnic!

A few weeks ago, I snapped out of bed and announced to a still-groggy Eugene that I had a plan.

"I'm going to have a picnic," I told him. "In Central Park. And I'm going to invite all the food and food writers and food people I talk to on Twitter all day long."

He gave me that look that he gives me when I come up with plans that invariably involve huge grocery bills and hours in the kitchen.

"And it will be a potluck," I quickly added. "So I won't have to do all the cooking. Everyone can bring something delicious, and we'll talk and laugh and lay around in the sun all day!"

At this he agreed that it was a good idea and went off to get ready for the day while I got to work writing up the invitation. By the time he got out of the shower, I already had my first RSVP from Anna of Very Small Anna and the plan was officially in effect.


On the morning of the party, I couldn't resist and got busy in the kitchen. I wasn't sure what the turnout was going to be, so I wanted to make sure that there was enough food for everyone. I roasted asparagus, made a simple chicken salad with sliced almonds, lemon, and green apples, and a roasted potato salad with a smoked paprika dressing. I also put together a few sandwiches with fresh mozzarella, eggplant caponata, and spicy ajvar on multigrain bread, figuring that any leftovers would be great for lunch the following week.

Given the unpredictable (and unseasonal) nature of this summer, I was a little worried about the weather. I spent the week trying to figure out what to do if it rained, and wondering if I could somehow hold the picnic on our living room floor. Fortunately, the sun came out and it actually turned out to be one of the prettiest days of the month.

Eugene and I got to the spot early and were surprised to see that the usually empty corner of the park was actually quite bustling with some kind of children's camp. There were counselors in white t-shirts and little kids playing kickball everywhere, so we had to walk a bit further down to the water's edge to find a spot. We settled in under a big willow tree, and spread out our brightly colored blankets just a few feet away from a thorny blackberry bush.


It's always a bit awkward waiting for strangers that you've only "met" virtually. Twitter profile pictures really aren't the most helpful for picking folks out in a crowd. There was another fairly large picnic being held across the way from, and since people kept arriving and walking straight towards them, we started getting a little worried that they were stealing our people. I was just about to march over to them, when it dawned on us that we should have brought a sign. Eugene grabbed a scrap of cardboard and ran up to the children's camp to borrow a marker. He came back holding a sign with the words "Nandita Tweetup!" written across it.

"Why didn't you write food blogger picnic?" I asked.

"You didn't even want a sign, and now you're complaining," he pointed out. "This will work."

We attached it (sort of) to the tripod and planted it facing the crowd (in case any of our people had been lured away). It did work, because within a few seconds, our first guests arrived. Erin, a blogger and writer whom I've chatted with on Twitter, walked over to us and set down a beautiful bowl of roasted vegetable orzo. Eugene's coworker Jan-Michael and his friend Tom also came by. Jan brought chips and a homemade buffalo-chicken dip that tasted absolutely incredible. It was like eating buffalo wings...on a chip! Tom contributed some tasty ham and cheese sandwiches cut into perfect cubes.




My friend DC, who is executive director of The LAMP, a kickass media literacy nonprofit, and his lovely wife Emily (the LAMP communications director) arrived soon after. DC shared a just-pulled from the oven pot of mouthwatering baked beans. They were sweet and smokey and absolutely perfect eaten straight from a plastic cup. He refused to share his recipe, and wouldn't even tell us what the delicious meat in it was, although we spent much of the afternoon trying to guess. All we know for sure is that it was definitely not bacon. (Or squirrel...)




The other guests quickly followed: Marc, the talented cook and blogger behind No Recipes, and his wife brought gorgeous summer rolls and a cool cucumber dip. Looney, my faithful friend and cohort brought focaccia with eggplant, onions, and garlic. Thalia, the marketing manager from our office cafe at Hearst, showed up in a brilliant Mexican peasant dress and with a bottle of sparkling apple cider. Shiv, from the ridiculously awesome blog Pithy and Cleaver contributed a chickpea salad with a cilantro-yogurt dressing; perfect for a summer picnic!




To drink we had bottles of red and white wine (carefully concealed from any passing nosy officers), Thalia's sparkling apple cider, a tequila-drenched watermelon courtesy of Anna, and an intoxicating strawberry liqueur, lemon, and thyme syrup (all homemade!!!) cocktail prepared table...er... blanket-side by master mixologist Payman.




Hermann, the lightning bolt behind the new food-focused meetup group, FeastUp, brought Polish sausage from Greenpoint, which paired perfectly with the cheeses selected by cheese monger-in-training, Francoise. Later in the afternoon, my coworker Aryanna wandered over, bringing along her friend Chimene who (like me!) wants to pursue a career in food writing and just completed a course on the subject. We compared notes on our respective classes while digging into the two-bite brownies and fruit salad that she brought.






Ironically (and despite the name of this blog), we didn't have as many desserts as I originally expected. While collecting RSVPs, several came in from bloggers who planned to bring cake or other sweet treats. Worried that we'd end up with nothing but pie, I asked all subsequent responders to bring a savory dish. But then theoriginal dessert-never showed up! Fortunately we had sweet strawberries and lavender-scented chocolate mochi chip cupcakes from Anna, who just moved to NY to start pastry school. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of them, but if they're any indication of her talent, she's definitely got some good days ahead!


It was a great time, and fantastic to have a little real-life interaction with some of the folks I talk to all week long online. I hope even more of you will join us for the next one! (And there will definitely be a next one...)

I'll be posting a few of the recipes (for the dishes I contributed) over the course of this week. If any of the other attendees blog about your dishes, let me know or leave the link in the comments.

Oh! And if you want to see the rest of the pictures (there are lots!), check them out on Flickr.

P.S. If you're wondering why I'm not in any of these pictures, it's because I was behind the camera. ;)

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The one thing I would take over dessert...

George Clooney counts as edible, right?


I'm adding this to the list of reasons why I love my job... ;) Just about every single woman in my building ran down to meet him (camera phones in hand). Even Oprah's Best Friend Gayle came down! He waved and smiled and chatted with us. We squealed and sighed and flashed our Treos at him. Ahhh... ::swoon::

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